Is Maltodextrin Bad for You? The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

Maltodextrin. You may have never have heard of this food ingredient before, or you may have heard a lot. Either way, you most likely have ingested it several times throughout your life.

Pick up 5 things in your kitchen with a label and read the ingredients list. Chances are a couple of those labels have maltodextrin in them. You find it in salad dressings, frozen yoghurt, spice mixes, Cheetos, candy, baked goods, fat-free and sugar free products. You'll even find it in meats, nutrition bars, splenda, mass gainers, and many meal replacement shakes like Ensure and Advocare. There's been a lot of hype about MSG, high fructose corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils, but maltodextrin is found in even more foods, yet going under the radar. So the question is: What exactly is maltodextrin, and is it healthy? Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of this starch-derived product.

First the facts: Maltodextrin comes from treated grain starch, primarily corn or rice starch. It can also come from wheat and potatoes, but is less common in the U.S. Hydrolyze this starch by adding some enzymes and acids, filter and purify it some more and you get either Maltodextrin, or Corn Syrup Solids. The difference is that Maltodextrin is hydrolyzed to have less than 20% sugar content, whereas Corn Syrup Solids have more than 20%. It gives fat-like body to food products, increases their shelf life, and mixes quite well with other ingredients. It's also cheap to make and produce. Though not a sugar, it still has a glycemic index of 130 by itself (table sugar is only 65).

The Good: Though maltodextrin is technically a complex carbohydrate because of it's sugar content, it's high glycemic index means it goes through the digestive system super fast. There are 2 instances where this is a good thing. 1) After a hard workout, maltodextrin will quickly get energy and protein (if accompanied) to your muscles. That's why the Results and Recovery drink has some in there along with Dextrose (a sugar that maltodextrin mimics). 2) During a long workout (aka marathons), maltodextrin's quick absorption by the body and low osmolality (It doesn't absorb much water) make it a good candidate to give energy while not dehydrating you.

The Bad: Outside of the aforementioned time-frames, maltodextrin is just as bad, sometimes worse, as having sugar. Easily absorbed carbs like maltodextrin and sugar get into your bloodstream fast. If there is nothing for all that blood sugar to do (i.e. repair muscle-tissue, give energy), it will get stored as fat. Contrast that with real complex carbs from whole grains, which are broken down and absorbed slowly, and maltodextrin looks more and more like sugar.

The Ugly: the ugly truth is that maltodextrin is hard to avoid. Even dieting companies overload their shakes and bars with the stuff because it's cheap, they don't have to label it as sugar, and it's fatty texture can replace real fats (both good and bad).

The moral of the story here is to stick to whole foods or whole-food derived products—like Shakeology. Check your labels, and if it has maltodextrin in the ingredients list, it better be a post-workout supplement.

[Update Jan 27th, 2014] Some commenters have also pointed out that Maltodextrin is associated with Celiac Disease Chrohn's Disease. Also, one commenter also pointed out that most of the corn used to make Maltodextrin is GMO sourced (i.e. Genetically Modified). While the jury is out in the US, the EU recommends avoiding GMO products. So once again, be warned, Maltodextrin has very limited useful purposes.

Like this Blog or have any questions on Maltodextrin, health, or fitness? Let me know in the comments section below or sign up to subscribe to the blog or receive free health and fitness coaching. You can also check out more of my "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" posts on different ingredients. My latest ones are on MSG, Stevia, and Caffeine.

Jed is a fitness and travel enthusiast. A beachbody coach and A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer, Jed has a passion for staying healthy amidst a busy lifestyle. Having travelled to over 50 countries, he knows how rough travel can be on the body and has spent considerable time studying ways to "travel-proof" the body.

219 Comments

millie

May 11, 2013

I have health issues from a brain injury that keeps me in bed some days which I then eat almonds to get by. I like the blue diamond naural oven roasted with sea salt but noticed besides the sea salt corn maltodextrin is listed. Does this make it a bad alternative? Any suggestions…

Yeah, it’s kind of annoying that many companies use maltodextrin as part of their seasoning mixture. With the almonds, this could be fine, but check the nutrition label on the carbs and serving size. Personally, I would get raw or unseasoned roasted almonds and season it myself with Himalayan salt.

On the Almonds there is probably very little maltodextrin used. It is put into seasoning to help disperse the seasoning and to help the seasoning/salt stay on the almond. If you look at the nutrition label of the oven roasted almonds with no salt a serving (1oz) has 5g of total carbs. The oven roasted almonds with sea salt that has corn maltodextrin listed in the ingredients also has 5g of total carbs per serving. The same is true for the jalapeno smokehouse flavor and many other blue diamond almond flavors. If you want to stay away from added carbs, I would avoid flavors like dark chocolate, butter toffee etc. which use sugar in the seasoning for extra sweetness. Sometimes you just want something sweet though, and I think eating these would be better than eating something else that doesn’t have the protein which helps fill you up.

Maltodextrin caused my 24 to 40 hour Migraines starting at age 40. I’ve spent 8+ years narrowing this down to my single worst allergy; I was eating Thomas Bagels and Blue Diamond Almonds quite often,after seeing an ND and starting a new diet, slowly introducing foods with a daily Journal, finally took action as my body strongly rejects this product.
Reading labels and asking restaurant managers about the ingredients is the only thing that keeps me from being sick. Originally thought of Maltodextrin as a thickening agent as guar gum is, in which I am also allergic to.

Shakeology may not have malto but it’s Whey protein is an isolate, which is heat processed killing good enzymes and nutrients. Isagenix used undenatured (cold pressed) whey providing maximum protein with the natural enzymes for digestion and absorption. It is also safe to use as baby formula! Awesome!

Sorry Lulu, you are mistaken. Ion Exchanged Whey Protein Isolate does not denature the protein and does not use high temperatures, but rather a “ion exchange” process (hence the name) to get more protein content. True, this may leave some of the other benefits of the protein behind, but Shakeology more than makes up for it with the 70 other superfood ingredients for maximum bioavailability. If you really want to play comparisons here, Shakeology doesn’t have sand (silicone dioxide) and it’s vanilla source is guaranteed not to include propylene glycol (aka antifreeze) like most vanilla flavors do. Unless of course Isagenix also goes out of it’s way by getting it’s vanilla directly from local farmers in Madagascar like Shakeology… but I doubt that. I also noticed that some of Isagenix shakes (Dairy Free Italian Shake) have Maltodextrin in them and higher sugar content than Shakeology. Once again, Shakeology comes out on top here.

I have always worked out with weights, I was diagnosed with Graves disease and Celiac disease….I had to give up Maltodextrin was making me very ill…..I did some research Maltodextrin can be made with Wheat, rice or corn starch and they do not have to identify which starch they use…I cannot consume corn or wheat so Maltodextrin is not allowed. There are so Gluten Free products on the market with Maltodextrin as an ingredient. I do not understand why all the “Ensure” drinks passed out at hospitals contain Maltodextrin which make so many patients cannot drink. All the nutrition drinks I have found listed as Gluten Free contain Maltodextrin, why?? All products sold at GNC listed as Gluten Free, even protein drinks and protein bars (GF) contain Maltodextrin. Maltodextrin contains GMO grains which people who have auto immune diseases whether Celiac Disease or Hyperthyroid cannot use GMO grains. I was told because Maltodextrin is very cheap to use and profitable to the producer.

Gluten isn’t derived from corn or rice, the main grains used to make maltodextrin. But you are right that it is too often used as the primary carb in supplements and meal replacements like Ensure.

Harlem

February 26, 2014

THEY PUT IT IN NAKED JUICE. I’m like, is there no food holy enough that they can’t find a way to get sugar in you? I’ve since moved beyond Naked brand juice, but I thought I’d buy a Blue Machine to round out my breakfast.

Earlier this morning, I saw a commercial for Tropicana Farmstand, and the script says it contains “No added sugar.” How clever. Didn’t say “no sugar.” But the word “added” could mean they didn’t shove any more on top of what they process into it. Why say anything if you’re going to run a deception? They could add pear juice or any combination of juices to match flavor. This is a main reason I’m long since off the big corporate brands, but only wanted to say, “beware.”

It’s interesting that when you take the “J” out of enjoy- you get “enoy”—loses all the joy.

John

March 9, 2014

With the protein and fat content of the almonds, it is possible that the maltodextrin absorption is slowed and doesn’t give you quite as quick or large a blood sugar spike as it would in a liquid drink.

Im ok with malodextrin being in my protein shake after a tough lift. Simplifies the need to have to eat/drink something to accompany the shakes that don’t have it in them. As far as it being an additive, its tough to avoid as food manufacturers like its texture enhancing properties. Unfortunately, to avoid this and most other additives, your food simply cannot come out of a wrapper, bag, or can.

This is very true. Then again, having a diet that mostly consists of fresh, non-packaged food isn’t so unfortunate. What’s unfortunate is the typical American diet is so packaged and artificial that fresh food is seen as a luxury or worse—not as tasty.

I recently started 4life transfer factor classic and see from the label ~ which I did not know when I looked at it online that it has maltodextrin. Other than being careful to use it after my exercise and not just anytime ig day, can you offer any thoughts?? Thank you. Melinda

Essie Stewart

January 27, 2017

I am allergic to MSG, I mean seriously, sooooo does this ingredient (msg) make up the spicy flavor…. my tough us tingling now, I’m heading to the er, I went on the web when I started feeling the sensation my mouth, then I see in MSG…..I’m pissed!

I think you meant to post this on my MSG post. Maltodextrin is not MSG, nor is chemically similar: MSG is a savory spice used to accent other flavors, usually salt, while Maltodextrin is a complex carbohydrate that acts similar to sugar with a high glycemic index.

Maltodextrin is not toxic to the body, but, as I mention, has a higher glycemic index than sugar. This means that this can cause blood sugar levels to spike, rather than giving a slower, more steady flow of blood sugar for energy. There are other formulas that do not have Maltodextrin, such as Nature’s One (they use Brown Rice Syrup, http://www.naturesone.com/dairy/nutrition-facts/).

Thank you for clarifying Judy. I was reading the Chron’s Disease link to Celiac Disease/gluten intolerance and thinking, this isn’t the same thing. I’m also dairy, soy, sugar & artificial sweetener intolerant. Some days a real challenge to eat. Especially when traveling out of the USA.

Dee Williams

February 25, 2014

I use splenda as it says it is suitable for diabetics as it contains maltodextrin that is reported to spike BS should they be allowed to say this?

They are able to say it because the packets are small enough. It would take quite a few packets to spike blood sugar, but it is definitely plausible. Most packets of different brands of stevia contain a gram of a “filler” ingredient, Maltodextrin being a popular one. A gram of Maltodextrin won’t spike BP, but 20 or more can (this is a guestimate, everyone’s body has different tolerances for what will spike BP).

Watch all rice products, especially when used for babies. Arsenic is being found in heavy density (waaay beyond safe levels) in all rice products internationally. To the point that the world suppliers and health organizations are holding summit meetings to strategize how to combat this super scary non publicized situation. Just a thought.

You should be very concerned. Formula has 2 times higher sugar content (from maltodextrin, dextrose, corn syrup, etc.) than mother’s milk. You are feeding your baby more sugar than it needs for development and as a result the baby has high likelihood of developing obesity, diabetes, ADD, ADHD, and Autism and cardiovascular diseases over time.

Ideally, the baby should only consume mother’s milk and after 6 months of age- home-made purees of organic carrots, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, apples and other organic fruits and vegetables.

The statistics of childhood obesity and diabetes speak for themselves- 30%+ of all children less than 10 years old are obese or diabetic and have clogged-up arteries like a 45-year old adult. These are all scientific facts- with 1 root cause- formula feeding and processed foods from a very early age.

If these are “scientific facts” , would you mind posting your references? I have an advanced degree in food science and I’ve never seen a single study that confirms your statements. Formula feeding doesn’t cause obesity. Overeating and inactivity cause obesity. Perhaps kids should move away from the tv and the video games a little more often.

Marie, if you haven’t seen a single study about this is probably because you haven’t spent a single minute trying to find one. These videos are long, but insightful on the matter. We have more overweight babies under 9 months of age than ever, and no, it’s not because those babies are being lazy and watching too much TV. If you want studies to backup claims you should start by backing up your own comments with proper scientific evidence.

Wow, you are really mean! She only asked you for the references you were touting as facts, probably because she DID want to research and learn more about the subject matter your comment was addressing. The first rule in science to proving your hypothesis is providing actual testable data. Guess what? You failed! Both articles you referenced mention NOTHING about formula being the culprit for overweight babies. They make some pretty sound guesses on other factors like overfeeding but both articles warn that there is no index to measure obesity in infants. Specifically because babies are rapidly growing for the first two years of their lives and a baby that appears “overweight” may change in a short period of time. As for your youtube videos, only one mentions formula as a contributing factor because of its sucrose content and it’s addressed for maybe 2 minutes of the entire 129 min. video. He mentions it around the 119 mark. If you had mentioned juice or soda then it would be a different story; he talks about both extensively.
In conclusion, I honestly believe you just threw up some references you thought would substantiate your argument because you were defensive about being asked to provide factual references in the first place. This is America; We question everything… at least we should anyhow. I found an abundance of articles that specifically addresses the formula issue during my research so they are out there and your point is valid, you just didn’t convey it very well with what “research” you picked out. Which is sad because it’s a very important discussion and I don’t think most parents realize that EVERY baby formula has added sugar. They may use different methods, Earth’s Best adds organic Lactose, Similac Organic uses sugar cane, and the list goes on and on. It is true, some sugars are more dangerous than others like fructose but, the bigger question is why are we adding it in the first place, especially in baby formula when there is no nutritional value what so ever?

I admire your passion, it’s obviously something that concerns you greatly, as it should us all. However, being nasty and snide does not advance your cause in the least and probably turned more people off to watching your “evidence” than it did attracting them. We should all be nice to each other and show kindness. It is never more important than when we disagree. Defensiveness is closed-mindedness. I know it is hard when you feel that you have been questioned but, you will learn more if you also question yourself.

Ruth000

February 16, 2017

Corwinsmommy, that’s not being ‘mean’. The response was snide and condescending.

Michael

January 14, 2015

Ive seen and heard many studies and references where if a baby doesn’t get healthy food that’s good for metabolism and health it gives them a slower metabolism for life idk if it’s true just know ive heard food in the early stages can aid in weight gain or staying skinny like eating lots of bad foods whilst pregnant and feeding the baby sugar can increase the likelihood of the baby being fat in those early stages whereas if it’s given veggies fruits lean meats (healthy foods) and you walk with it a lot and it crawls everywhere then it’s easier for them to stay skinny. Not sure if its true just heard of it.

As well as away from fast food, fried food, and candy! Its everywhere. I cannot tell you how many dye & sugar pushers there are out in the world, friends, church members, family, the bank teller. My poor kid is inundated with the addictive stuff. I feel sorry he has to go through this life with an educated mother. And it makes ME look like the bad guy. PS. My son was exclusively breastfed until 6 months and he was a porker, my cute little Michelin man. He still struggles with weight gain if he eats wheat, dairy, sugar, corn and high glycemic foods just as I always struggled until I figured this out. We were never meant to eat such calorie dense, nutrient-stripped foods on a sedentary lifestyle. That is not how our bodies have been engineered. Blaming formula and shaming moms who have no other choice is not how we change the epidemic. Support & encourage.

Hey D, Thank you for being real and honest. Would you like to change your present condition? I don’t think obesity is necessarily your fault. Has anyone talked to you about food allergies? The body will protect itself from a perceived threat (food allergy) by surrounding the allergen in fat and storing it, thereby protecting the body from further harm. I’m only here to give you a tip that got me started researching. After I eliminated gluten, with diet and exercise, I was able to drop 78 lbs. This was after an unsuccessful year of dieting. I eliminated potatoes and potato starch and dropped 7 lbs. After eliminating dairy, I dropped another 5 while changing nothing else. There are ways you can narrow down your quest: elimination diets, Atkins diet, muscle testing, RAST tests (which can be inconsistent). Hope this was helpful. 90lbs sure changed my life.

Hi I have lupus and sugar causes flares for me. in my search for a substitute, I’m finding stevia is best, but hard to find and expensive in its purest form. stevia in the raw has maltodextrin and stevia leaf extract. is this ok and if not, can you help me find a sweetener that is good for me! By the way, artificial sweeteners swell me up as well!

No, the label isn’t false, the brand is. Labels are required by law from the FDA, but what the Brand advertised is not so closely scrutinized. I’ve seen many brands claim “All Natural” or “no Artificial Ingredients” and then read the nutrition label ingredients to prove otherwise. It’s a marketing scheme to make you think you have a healthy product when in actuality you are not.

Where did we all get our sweet tooth from anyway? cant we just not have any unnatural sugars in our diet at all. It won’t kill us to abstain from all sweetening’s surely. And get our sugar from natural fruits. Go on give it a go. I’m talking to me too.

Cynthia B

October 5, 2015

No he is saying Stevia that comes in raw form. She, however, said “Stevia in the raw” and by that she means the brand “Steve In The Raw” not the raw form. It was a misunderstanding due to semantics.

My Husband is Diabetic so I got Stevia “In the Raw” at Sam’s Club. I see on the back for ingredients it says Maltodextrin, Stevia Leaf Extract…and I was told the Maltodextrin was not good for him cause it spikes his sugar level.Just saying, read the ingredients! That goes for me too.

Yep, that’s right Kathleen, read your ingredients! Here’s another tip for diabetics: don’t get sweeteners of any kind. All sweeteners, even if they aren’t “sugar” and are natural, will almost assuredly spike blood sugar. Stick to whole food complex carbs and drink water instead of teas and coffee that you’ll want to sweeten up.

Quick question, can you explain how stevia spikes blood sugar levels if the product has no caleries? I am missing something here I think. So if I have water with lemon and a tsp of stevia, that will affect blood sugar levels? Even if you could point me to a scientific study that explains how that process works that would be cool too.

Thanks

Jed

February 8, 2014

Let me rephrase. A lot of Sweetener Brands that promote having stevia in their product have more than stevia in it, such as maltodextrin. Maltodextrin has caloric value like any carb (about 4 kcals per gram), and thus the “Stevia, 0-cal product” can spike blood sugar levels if you guzzle the stuff. Stevia seems most ethically used right now in some health drinks (like Shakeology) and nutritional snacks (like Quest Bars). Stevia is great, but it’s the stuff that’s added in the sweeteners that concern me.

Darryl

June 27, 2016

What causes a spike is the artificial sweetener. The sweetness passes over the tongue to alert the pancreas that sugar is coming in. The pancreas releases insulin. If there is no sugar for the insulin to bond to, then the liver dumps sugar into the system (cause the body thinks it is starving for fuel). This is the spike in blood sugar.

Kenny

February 11, 2015

Look into Lo Han sweetener. It is derived from the Lo Han (Monk) fruit from China.

Yes, I eat the Blue Diamond Almonds too and noticed maltodextrin was an ingredient. Disappointing, since I like the dry roasted almonds to avoid the fats associated with cooking in oil. Started buying sprouted raw almonds and roasting/salting them myself

My 82yr old mother in law is having Chemotherapy sessions & the treatment center gives out all the free ‘Ensure’ that she can carry. She uses the stuff as a meal replacement, so I was concerned after reading ingredient list.. Water, Corn Maltodextrin, Sugar, Canola Oil, etc… Only 20g of sugar are listed, are you saying that her body thinks its consuming much, much more? (She also adds 2 tbsp of sugar to coffee 2x day, ‘I know we’ve all tried to teach her’) thanks! Renee’

My dad had esophageal cancer and was also put on Ensure. In general, I do not recommend Ensure to anyone, and refer to Shakeology instead. But I’m not a doctor or dietician, so if they recommend Ensure for your mother-in-law as she fights cancer, they probably know what they’re doing. Of course, other meal supplement drinks like Shake-O won’t hurt either. Hope that helps!

Thank you for this post, very helpful!! I was looking into getting Advocare Spark energy drink and Maltodextrin was listed in the ingredients, it is the 4th to the last listed. Does this mean there isn’t much of it in the drink mix? What are your thoughts on Advocare’s Spark drink? Thank you!

To be honest, most Advocare products are complete crap. Hardly anything about them is natural, and they try to compensate by advertising artificial highly processed ingredients as “Healthy.” Advocare Spark fits this bill as well. I wouldn’t touch the stuff, not just because of Maltodextrin, but also because is just has artificial vitamins/minerals and caffiene as ingredients. If you already drink tea or coffee, the caffeine won’t even phase you, and then your just paying for expensive vitamin pee. Unfortunately, vitamins are not absorbed well by artificial means. That’s why real food and whole-foods based supplements are so important for getting your vitamins. If you need more natural energy and micronutrients, go for Shakeology and/or eat a frick-load of veggies, quinoa, and super fruits. Sure it costs more, but at least what you pay for wont get flushed down the toilet!

i am a new mom breastfeeding. A friend of mine mentioned that my baby would sleep longer if i fead her formula at night. When reading the ingredients of the formula, the first ingredient is corn maltodextrin. I should probably go with my gut and just avoid the formula. Should I feel guilty giving my baby formula?

My wife and I had our first baby last year and came across the same scenario. We heard that too about formula, but it’s not really true. If your baby has good full feedings throughout the day and especially before putting him/her to sleep, they should be fine. That’s what we found at least, and our son was sleeping through the night from 6 weeks (though not consistently until 3 months). Generally, I’d say avoid formula, but if you must, go organic, sans Maltodextrin.

Thanks a bunch for this informative article on this substance. I have heard a lot of mixed information regarding it, and finally decided to read five seperate articles on maltodextrin. Yours is the best in my opinion. Your info on marathon training sessions, and post workout nutrition are great, because I thought this stuff was bad all the time. Thanks again, and great site.

Hello.
Would just like to say, that the article is really educational. I’m training on all kinds of fields for the last 15 years and been doing intense workouts for the last 5 years + basketball training. Only before one week I bought myself pure carbs, maltodextrin, to mix it up with some whey protein. Took them like it was said, after the training and went to sleep. Woke up in superb condition. 🙂 ..not that I weren’t tired, but was much much less than usually. Would really recommend maltodextrine after intense workouts! 😉

Wow! I just read this and I am shocked! I have a box of stevia and it’s made with Maltodextrin. I exercise all of the time and eat pretty healthy, but I use stevia a lot!! I lost a lot of weight before discovering stevia and the past year I have gained 20lbs and I can’t lose it no matter how hard I try. I noticed it’s mostly belly fat and I was thinking maybe it was from avocados or peanut butter, but now I am wondering if it is from the stevia I use. I’m going to try to cut it out of my diet and see if that helps. What a great article you posted. Thank you for sharing!!

Glad you liked it Jennifer! Yeah, Avacados and Peanut Butter shouldn’t contribute to belly fat, though it’s still necessary to portion everything. In my research, products that use Stevia as a substitute for sugar are almost always just as processed as sugar. And like you pointed out, NOT the only ingredient! Stevia is used in some amazing products like Shakeology, but when advertised only as a “healthy” sweetener, beware.

The reason maltodextrin is in your sweetener packets (or sweetener blend) is that Stevia leaf extract is 400x as sweet as sugar. The amount you need to use to achieve the same sweetness is so small – that you wouldn’t be able to measure it without a special scale. The maltodextrin is used to “dilute” the stevia leaf extract to make it easier to use in the home. The calorie content should be very low if not zero. A gram of maltodextrin (4 cals) is a lot of powder and a single sweetener packet doesn’t weight that much.

Yes Marie that is true, however, it depends on how many packets someone uses to sweeten their food or beverage. Also, and more importantly, many people who buy Stevia products also want a more natural product, and maltodextrin does not fit into that category.

I disagree that maltodextrin doesn’t fit in a natural product. Maltodextrin is made from starch (naturally occuring in corn, tapioca, wheat, rice, etc) which is “broken down” by amylase – an enzyme. It is the same enzyme we have in our own saliva to digest starchy foods. Starches ultimately break down to sugar and maltodextrin is what you end up with if you stop that process in the middle.

Everything is technically natural. From plastic, to rubber, to high fructose corn syrup, they all have to start with a substance found in nature. But then refining, isolating, breaking down, and recombining through artificial processes makes such things artificial products. I consider Maltodextrin artificial because of the process taken to make it the way it is. Having a complex-carb “pre-digested” (even with a natural enzyme amylase) before it enters your body’s digestive system is not natural. One could also argue that White Bread is natural by a similar measure. In my definition, natural should be as close to the whole-food source as possible (i.e. rolled oats—they are steamed and rolled, that’s it!), and Maltodextrin is quite a processed product. The fact that is has to have a lab-made name speaks for itself.

amanda

October 15, 2013

Hi, thank you for this information. I recently discovered i am gluten / sugar and dairy intolerant. i am guessing as it is derived from treated grain starch it’s not gluten free?

As Maltodextrin is in most sports gels and drinks, I am looking into making my own (as i do endurance sports) any suggestions?

It depends on the kind of grain that a product uses to make Maltodextrin. Most American products usually use corn Maltodextrin (like the Recovery Drink I mentioned in the post), and corn is gluten free. So for endurance events, Maltodextrin could probably be included, bit you have to be absolutely sure it’s Maltodextrin derived from Corn. But since you’re Gluten and Sugar intolerant, I would talk to a certified dietician to be sure.

Now if you’re sugar intolerant, I am really not sure how you can make or purchase an endurance drink that is truly sugar free. I wouldn’t recommend any complex carbs outside of Maltodextrin for during workouts and events, as they won’t actually get energy to you fast enough. Are you intolerant of all sugars (anything ending in “ose”), even ones found in whole foods? If you are, then best bet is to stick to water and maybe add some corn derived Maltodextrin.

My six year old son is not a water drinker, he is also lactose intolerant, but he loves soda and juices. Trying to get more water and less soda & juice in his diet we bought koolaid packets that I sweeten with Splenda, and he loves it! The dental hygenist warned me yesterday about childrens developing bodies and aspartame. I know about the bad rap of that and try to avoid it, but she said to researcb Splenda as well. I came across your article on Maltodextrine which is one of the two ingrediants in Splenda. Sucralose being the other one. Needless to say I am worried. Can you tell me what issupposed to be safe to sweeten Koolaid and recipes with?

I am always an advocate for whole foods derived products, but even when it comes to juices, it’s hard to find a brand that doesn’t add something artificial. Juicing your own fruit is the best option, but that can be time consuming. For a child, you obviously don’t want to give them too much sweet stuff. As I say in the post, Maltodextrin isn’t necessarily bad, just how it’s used and how much you use. Basically, adding sugar, splenda, or even Agave Nectar to Koolaid will pretty much have the same effect in raising blood sugar levels. So in this instance, you should watch out more for “how much” sugar you give your son rather than “what type” of sugar.

What really scares me is that it’s that corn maltodextrin is first on the ingredient list in baby formula.
My baby is allergic to everything so far and the hypoallergenic formulas have between 35-45% in them.

No, MSG and Maltodextrin are completely different. MSG is a very harmful artificial “salt” basically. Maltodextrin is sugar in complex carbohydrate form (again, basically). Hope that helps differentiate the two.

Technically, everything is naturally sourced. It’s the refining, extracting, and adding to natural ingredients that make them “artificial.” Also, natural does not mean it’s healthy. Arsenic is natural, doesn’t mean it’s healthy. There are several reasons MSG is bad to consume, but I’ll leave that for another post. Just to be clear to other readers, MSG & Maltodextrin are two very different substances.

Right on Wolfy,
MSG is naturally occuring. It’s in yeast (that’s why a lot of products contain yeast extract for flavor), there is a significant amount in mushrooms and in hydrolyzed soy protein. Hydrolyzing the soy (breaking the soy protein into it’s amino acid consituents) releases the amino acid glutamine – the major component of msg. MSG occurs naturally in our bodies as well. Some people are just sensitive to it whether it is naturally derived or not.

I have a question, recently I brought this unsweetened green tea powder to mix in my drinks, I am thinking of drinking this on a regular basis, but I found out it has maltodexin in it as a first ingredient, then the second ingredient is green tea powder. Since it is unsweetened, does it still act as a sugar? How bad would it be if I drink this on a regular basis?

If it helps, the brand of this product is call Yamamotoyama unsweetened iced green tea powder.

Just as bad (maybe worse) as drinking Green Tea and adding sugar. Maltodextrin, since it is technically a complex carb, is allowed to not be listed as a sugar. Yet, it raises blood sugar faster than table sugar. Thus, as I said in the post, the only real reason to have Maltodextrin is after workouts. Otherwise it’s just something brands use to make you think you’re eating/drinking something sugar free. If you have to have some sweetness, opt for agave nectar or as natural of sugar as you can get to add to natural green tea.

I am not saying I’m an advocate of certain brands that advertise Agave, but are really corn syrup. Agave by itself is what I am ok with, in moderation, as it is still a sugar. As with any product, you should always read the ingredients to see if it matches up with their advertising. Often the two don’t coincide, like you are referencing with Agave. Some of my other favorites are Maple Syrup that has no maple, Dried Blueberries that are made with cranberries and artificial flavoring instead, and of course, who can forget to mention bacon bits that don’t even have a smidgen of pork in them! Read your labels people!

Honey is great, but be careful to buy it from a local source. I just read a magazine article that stated that millions of pounds of honey are imported illegally into the U.S. each year, and 3/4 of the honey sold in the U.S. isn’t pure honey, but contains many other types of sweeteners.

Mary

March 27, 2016

Honey can also be diluted with other sweeteners so read those labels as well.

brianna

November 2, 2013

Thanks for the info! So what are your thoughts on sensa ? I’ve been using it for a couple weeks and haven’t noticed any drastic changes, but I noticed the main ingredient is maltodextrin. I read this and was like oh great have I just been sprinkling more sugar on my good when that’s what I’ve been trying to stay away from!? Thanks! (:

Yeah, I’m not a fan of sensa, artificial sweeteners, or pretty much anything artificial. Almost always these companies just try to get away with technicalities, such as maltodextrin technically not being a sugar. Thus they can advertise their product as sugar-free but it will still cause spikes in blood sugar.

Glad you liked the article Pat! Before getting on Shakeology, I did my research of many different health juices, shakes, and meal replacements. Shakeology beat all of them by a mile. Vemma is no exception. All Vemma has going for it is Mangosteen and Aloe Vera, 2 super foods. Shakeology has over 70. What is more, Vemma’s mangosteen is reconstituted juice, so it is more processed than Shakeology’s strictly whole food formula. Additionally, since all the Vitamins it comes with aren’t derived from Mangosteen or Aloe Vera, you will just pee most of those vitamins out unless accompanied by healthy fats that are preferably in the drink itself (which Vemma doesn’t have).

Which leads me to my final point: Vemma is not a meal replacement, it’s just a glorified vitamin shot. I’d personally rather pay $120 to replace a month’s worth of breakfasts or lunches or dinners—which also has all your vitamins, phytonutrients, pre and probiotics, and antioxidants plus protein and healthy fats— than spend $40 on top of what I spend on meals. Not to mention the $40 you’re paying for is mostly expensive pee.

I’m 89 and in good health – take no medications. 3 weeks ago an esophageal test revealed liquids half going down but the other half going into my lungs. Thick-It was prescribed for me to thicken all liquids to the consistency of honey and it has malodextrin in it. In two days I have used 1/2 of a 30 oz. jar of Thick-IT @26 dollars for the jar and am still so very thirsty. For 4 oz. of water I have to use 5 teaspoons of Thick-IT. Do you know of anything that I could use instead or of any thickened juice or whatever is available. Thank you for your reply.

Hey Mary, I found this youtube video that may help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqhkOiHJgKg. If you don’t want to make your own thickener, the guy in the video mentions a different brand than the one you’re using, Simply Thick. you can find their website here: http://www.simplythick.com. I would in any case, talk to your doctor before making any changes though.

Hi Mary! I would try getting some organic chia seed and grinding that into a powder with your blender. Chia will thicken wonderfully and it also helps to keep your body hydrated. And as an added bonus is very good for you! If you don’t have a blender you can normally use them whole, but in your case I’m not sure if that would be ideal. I’m not a doctor… but I hope this helps!

you sound as though you are very informed as far as healthy foods are concerned. have you ever read up on JuicePlus+ ? check it out, and please give your comments on it. i will be very appreciative of them.
thank you.
marilyn smart

Hey Marilyn, thanks for the question. I am a little skeptical of JuicePlus, though not as much as some health supplements. A few friends have tried it and liked it, but it didn’t seem like it made any noticeable changes. JuicePlus is pretty much just a whole food multivitamin pill, except it doesn’t seem to have that many vitamins, and just a few antioxidants.

Given that it is in pill form is what makes me most skeptical: there is simply not enough of the fruits/vegetables that can be crammed into a pill to make much of a healthy impact. Even if they dehydrate the fruits and powder them up (as their website purports), those dehydrates forms wouldn’t fit into one pill, much less over a dozen. If it was a bunch of super foods that have high and concentrated amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc. that would be different, but many of the ingredients are not that exotic or “super.”

Contrasted with my favorite supplement, Shakeology, JuicePlus is just a really expensive and not very potent multivitamin, whereas Shakeology has far more whole-food sources; is a meal replacement with protein, carbs, and healthy fat; and has much more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, plus prebiotics and probiotics. Personally, I’d rather replace the expense of a meal and a multivitamin than add an additional expense for an iffy whole food multivitamin.

Thank you so much for this helpful information. I have been a type 2 diabetic for over 20 years now and have been cutting down and in some cases eliminating any type of artificial sweetener from my diet. I have also found that if I eat anything with maltodextrin in it I get lose stool and very bad smelling gas and stomach cramps within 1 to two hours after ingesting it. The information you added about elevated blood sugars is helpful and important. Another problem too about products that contain this ingredient is that with 90% of the corn/soybeans being produced today coming from GMO’s so is the by product from grains striped of their ethanol for gas additives being placed back into the food chain by processing the left overs back into what we eat. be smart buy organic whenever possible and eat whole foods.

“Maltodextrin comes from treated grain starch, primarily corn or rice”. Since 85% (at least) of the corn in the US is genetically modified (and probably a higher percentage when used as an ingredient in manufacturing), how can you recommend it at all?

I have a question for you. I have celiac diease and when I took my probotic pill or plant enzymes i got very bloated and my stomach got sick feeling. I look up the ingredients and it had maltodextrin. My friends doctor informed her not to take maltodextrin due to it being gluten. Is it true? Please give me your input

It depends on the grain that was used to make the Maltodextrin (mdx). Corn and rice mdx shouldn’t have gluten, while others can. Many times brands don’t say what type of mdx they use in the ingredients list, so you should prolly just avoid it.

I have severe Chronic Lyme Disease and sugar is an intense inflammatory problem for me. I am working at following a diet which helps to lower and repair the havoc caused by this hideous disease. I eat super fruits and lots of good vegetables but there are times I want to eat something that requires a sweetener. Outside of agave nectar, is there a sweetener to put on fruit,cereal or to bake with? I had heard Stevia in the Raw was much healthier than refined sugar so recently purchased a bag of it. First listed ingredient was maltodextrin. Your website indicates maltodextrin as a “no-no”. Do you have healthier suggestions as a substitute to use when I feel I absolutely need a sweetener? Or, did I misunderstand maltodextrin being “evil”?

You said (md) can be made from corn, rice or wheat and soy (?)
I just ate some rice thins that claimed that they are (CF) certified gluten-free but then the ingredient said contains 2% or less of Maltodextrin. How will this percentage affect me? I cannot have corn, soy or wheat so I’m confused as to what type of Maltodextrin this is. Any insight? GREAT blog btw!!!

It’s hard to say unless the brand specifically mentions the grain used to make the Maltodextrin. See how you react to it, but my opinion would be to avoid. Remember, md is only really good to have after a workout in a drink, not in a snack or food.

The glycemix index while valuable has its flaws as people respond and digest different food differently, one flaw the author fails to point out is portion size, for instance carrots have a high GI but you’d have to eat a lot of carrots for it to raise your glucose, soda and ice cream have the same GI as whole grains, and the whole grains movement is often industry founded as a blacklash to carbs, while whole grains may have fiber , often times the carbs included don’t make it for the difference, and it will still get stored as fat at times. Lower GI foods such as agave, and table sugar often founds in muffins,sweets,cookies,and soda also have fructose which gets stored as fat initially.

Hey Kris, it seems a lot of your points are unfounded. First, carrots have a GI of 35, which is really low, not high. You also make it out to be that carbs of any kind, even whole food derived complex carbs, are bad. The body was designed to utilize carbs for energy. In our current lazy society, yes, we don’t need as many carbs as our forefathers, but that doesn’t make them bad. Whole grains have a lot more going for them than fiber, they have protein, vitimins, minerals, and antioxidants. Whole grains can still get stored as fat for someone not exercising, but not nearly as fast or as bad as fact acting sugars can.

Furthermore, you are slightly mistaken that fructose get stored as fat initially. When fructose is digested, the liver has three options of what to do with it: 1) turn it to glucose 2) store it as glycogen (which isn’t fat) or 3) store it as fat. As long as you’re exercising and getting fructose from whole food sources (I.e. Strawberries), you will probably not store fructose as fat in most circumstances.

I believe we both can agree on muffins not being a healthy eating choice though!

Hi I’m pregnant with my second child. I had a lot of ensure and some sport drinks (powerade) with my last child. the midwife commented and was very surprised that I had the cleanest placenta she has seen (I smoke)I’m trying 2 find what I did so good. I was eating LOTS of food ensure and bananas being the main 2. Could this ingredient have anything 2do with it?

Surprised that no one having systemic yeast infection has responded. But to finding a sweetener that isn’t “toxic.” What do you know/think about Xylitol? Even more expensive than pure Stevia but also available in health food stores. And I’m another who was fooled by Stevia in the Raw. I’ve been using it for months and gradually feeling worse. Which caused me to check the list of ingredients. Not legally wrong but do these companies have any morals? Or is it just greed? For many of us, taking in maltodextrin or other “forbidders” is damaging to our health.
Thanks for the forum.

Xylitol is a sugar Alcohol, but that’s as much as I really know. The only sugar alcohol I trust is Erythritol because it’s easier on the stomach and has only .2 calories per gram. Also to note, Stevia (even by itself) in large quantities can be harmful.

I cam here to learn about maltodextrin because it’s sometimes used in homebrewing(yeah, we add it ourselves) at least beer is a sometimes drink! I also learned that people wanting to use stevia are being screwed by the companies selling it! It would take extra work, but the stevia plant can be bought and grown like a houseplant and used without the need for additives. I’ve never grown one but I’ll bet if you brewed some of the leaves like tea, you could add that tea to your other foods! I have no idea how strong that would be or how many plants you need.
I hope the link works, also I’m sure other places sell them. http://www.eburgess.com/detail.asp?pid=1540&nav=hps

I grow stevia for personal use. The plant is a tender (frost-sensitive) perennial, 14-16″ tall and wide when mature. Three or four plants per person should be adequate if you’re a frequent user of sweeteners. I plant nursery sets (very poor results when I started from seed, which are quite expensive) a couple of weeks after the last frost in mediocre soil and water every other day (I live in a very dry climate). When the plants are about 12″ – mid to late July – I cut-off about 2/3 of the branches, then harvest the entire plant before first frost. I’ve heard one can bring the plants inside during the winter, but I’ve not had any luck with that.
Dry the leaves on a screen, or in your dehydrator at 90-95 degrees for a few hours. When completely dry (crumbly when rubbed between fingers) cool to room temp and store in a jar with tight-fitting lid. Would not recommend grinding all of the harvest at one time, as grinding releases volatile oils (the flavor) , but if you use quite a bit, you might grind (I use a coffee grinder) a week or two’s worth at a time. No need to make into a tea, just add the crumbled or powdered leaves to what ever you’re cooking. NOTE: Real, unadulterated stevia, when dried, looks like dried leaves, not like the lily-white powder of the processed stuff. Also, while I do grow the stuff, I’ve found that “sweet” is an acquired taste or perhaps hypoglycemic reaction, and can live without it in most food and beverages, but it I have to have it, prefer a bit of honey or maple syrup to the stevia.

Very interesting article! I was impressed by the viewpoint from all angles, and by the general attitude in the comments. This definitely seems to be one of the more level-headed health sites I’ve run into. It’s especially interesting to know that while this is something to generally avoid, for someone that does nearly daily crossfit, it can actually be beneficial over traditional sugar.

I’ll definitely check out some more of your stuff.

Since I’m here, this is was I was researching when I ended up here: Cascadian Farms Granola Any thoughts on it? Other than it being excessively sweet, I quite like it.

Glad you like the article Eric! Indeed, Maltodextrin does have it’s place in extreme fitness regimens. As for the Cascadian Farms Granola, I’m not a fan of the sugar and maltodextrin, and it’s pretty funny to me honey is one of the last ingredients despite the name. I personally love making my own granola from scratch with oats, macadamia oil, raw honey or raw maple syrup, and other stuff like different nuts, maybe some dried fruits, and even some flavorless whey protein. Make some in a big batch and it’ll last you weeks. Of course, even homemade granola is gonna have sugar, but at least it’s natural!

Im trying to tell my mother in law to stop using herbal life products for te ingredients in there ae horrible here re some in her herbal tea concentrate supportsenergy and metabolism…
maltodextrin, fructose, orange pekoe extract and other extracts
now the other supplements a liftoff tablets by herbal life ready for this…
citic acid, sodium BENZOATES, sodium bicarbonate yellow number #6 corn syrup solids and other interesing ingredients sigh how can i scare her more when i have already told her about the effects of these ingredients??? or can i even change her mind about this? so far i havent.

Just like trying to convince someone else to exercise or live a healthy lifestyle, it’s really nye impossible unless they themselves have an “aha” moment where they realize they are not doing good to themselves. Perhaps a documentary on such ingredients would help. It can be harder with “health” brands like Herbalife since they are supposed to be good for you. Also, familiarity breeds contempt, i.e. because she’s your mother-in-law, she won’t listen to you on such things as much as someone she knows less. Weird, but that’s what I’ve found in my own experience. Perhaps hearing it from someone else will give her a fresh perspective.

Thanks for the article Jed.
I recently tried ‘Malt Salt’ (vinegar flavoured salt), on French fries. I really like it, but found when I took quite a lot of it, (I.e. cleaned the residue on the plate!), that it made me want to vomit all of a sudden.!
I normally have no adverse reactions to food.
The ingredients list a heavy inclusion of Maltodextrin. I wondered if it was this that made me I’ll, or is some other culprit more likely?
Any thoughts greatly appreciated, thanks.

Not sure I follow Brian. Maltodextrin is a complex carb because it is a long-chain saccharide (polysaccharide). Sugars like Dextrose, however, are short-chained, “simple” carbs. As I mention in the article though, Maltodextrin still has a high glycemic index despite the technicality of it being a complex carb.

I arrived at your article about maltodextrin while researching some of the ingredients in the popular probiotic supplement: Keybiotics, by Whole Body Research. I am disappointed to find unfavorable comments about maltodextrin as well as about fructooligosaccharides (FOS). I’m in the process of looking for a more favorable probiotic to take after finding that out that Threelac by Global Health Trax (GHT) has a strain of “questionable” bacteria in it (Enterococcus Faecalis) & that my other go-to, Flora Five (also by GHT) is not as readily available at present. Even though I personally have only experienced good results from both products, I feel that I’d rather have more whole & truly good-for-you ingredients going into my body. Keybiotics touts that it is allergin-free & seems so well researched, I’d like to try it … but, I just hate what I’ve read about some of the seemingly innocuous ingredients. In the end, I’d prefer to get what I need from only food, but there again … sometimes it is helpful to supplement because of poor nutritive quality, unavailability, or cost-prohibitive factors. 🙁

Actually, it’s quite possible, because there are actually 2 Glycemic Indexes. One index uses White Bread as the main reference point (i.e. White Bread’s Value is 100), while the other uses straight up glucose. Glucose on the White Bread Index is 145, as it is much more easily absorbed than white bread. The number I used in this article is from the White Bread referenced index. Maltodextrin enters the blood stream faster than White Bread, and thus has a number greater than 100.

I came across this post while researching additives in a supplement I have started taking, which contains maltodextrin. I noticed you mentioned Shakeology, and how that doesn’t have maltodextrin, but interestingly enough, the supplement I am researching is made and was obtained through Beachbody. I am a little confused … is it added to some of their items and not others?

That’s correct, it is not in Shakeology, but you can find it it many post-workout supplements, Fuel Shot and P90X Results and Recovery from Beachbody are prime examples. Were one of those the supplement you are referring to? As you can see from my article, Maltodextrin can be used post-workout to help speedily deliver protein (if also included) to broken down muscles. This is, in my opinion, the only beneficial nutritional use for maltodextrin. Shakeology’s goal is to provide a meal replacement that is completely whole-food sourced, which is why they would not use Maltodextrin in it. If you want to know more about shakeology, check out my Shakeology page.

am tired of eating the wrong foods..tired of cooking , tired of spending money..can some one invent a pill that I can take and that’s it? or a shake like Soylent that has Maltodextrin? ..what do you think of this product that will be availble to the public this fall? thank you!
I am seriously thinking of drinking it.

Sorry Johny, but there’s no such thing as a quick fix. Soylent is awful, too much processed crap, and Maltodextrin should not be a primary source of carbs. Shakeology is immeasurably better, and even then you have to eat whole foods to make up most of your diet. You want results, you have to work for it, just like anything in life.

Wow, I came across your article when I googled Maltodextrin because I noticed it is in my iced tea powder – which is just plain Lipton tea, supposedly no sugar or flavors. I have been on a sugar-free diet and cut out everything including sugar-free gum and thought I was doing well. How disappointing to find that I have been guzzling this sugar-like substance! I do usually drink just water or brew green or black tea, but when I am super busy I was using instant. Just goes to show how insanely processed everything is these days! Thanks for your info.

Any thoughts on this new product Soylent? One of the main ingredients is maltodextrin. Apparently, you can use it to completely substitute food. The creator was recently on the Colbert Report, so the product is getting a lot of publicity.

Good question Doug. I’m sorry but I am SUPER skeptical of Soylent, for many reasons. It is one thing to use a shake for a meal or snack replacement, I do so with Shakeology all the time, but to have Soylent as the MAIN source of food? No, there is no way that is gonna be good for you. The fact that maltodextrin is one of the primary ingredients should be reason enough to steer clear of the stuff. If maltodextrin is the main source of complex Carbs you’d get from consuming Soylent regularly, that is not good. I’d like to see what the glycemic index of Soylent is with so much of the product containing quick-absorbing ingredients. The only instance i’d see Soylent as beneficial is as a post-workout drink, and you could get way better for way cheaper for that. Once again I’ll reiterate, unless maltodextrin is in your post-workout drink, don’t consume the stuff!

I have a 3 week old son and am trying to start him off right with a healthy, organic formula (my wife is on a medication that won’t allow her to breastfeed). In Earth’s Best Organic infant formula the 2nd ingredient is corn syrup solids while Similac’s organic formula uses organic malodextrin as the 2nd ingredient and organic sugar as the 3rd. I have two questions for you.
1: in your opinion, is one product better than the other considering that I’d like my newborn not to start life with a sugar addiction?
2: if malodextrin is labeled organic, is it implied that it has not been produced using GMO’s?
Thank you!

That’s a tough one Josh. I’d honestly look at other brands before committing to either of the two you mentioned. But if I had to choose, I’d go with the Maltodextrin since it’s technically a complex carb, whereas corn syrup solids are sugars outright. You are right that Organic implies that no GMO’s were used in the corn. Hope that helps.

Thank you for your clear explanations–I’ve been confused about maltodextrin, agave, etc. and this is so helpful. I do have concerns about Shakeology, though, as Consumerlab has raised concerns about the lead content (12.7 mcg/serving) which they consider a concern, “natural” or not. Is Bestbody working to change this (other vegetable sources…)? The site doesn’t allow me to copy what they’re written–but I very much trust this resource and their lab tests, explanations, journal reviews, etc. I”m hoping Shakeology will revamp the formulation and ask Consumerlab to retest. I’d definitely like to try the product.

Good question. The fact of the matter is that the Shakeology sample that was used in the Lead study was an old Greenberry formula, which was already being replaced when the study came out. You can read more at this link here . Now I don’t want to just take Beachbody’s word for it, and I’d like to see the independent studies of the other current flavors/formulas, but it sounds like they are making an effort to ensure lower levels of heavy metals that fall under Consumer Labs guidelines. Hope that helps.

Not trying to offend here as I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article and found it very informative, but you used it’s in the incorrect context here. When possessive, use its instead. Ex: the cat chased its tail. Thanks for all your research!

Not that impressed. You would need to buy 3 of their products to try and match Shakeology, and even then it doesn’t come close to the amount of protein and super foods Shakeology has. Shakeology still remains undefeated in my book.

Hi Jed,
I just read that maltodextrin is in my baby’s fees thickener (he had bad reflux prior to this, and the thickener has fixed it). I’m worried about him consuming it with every feed.
I thought I might be better off with oat cereal for babies as it works just as well, however it has extra iron, and fruits, and I’m worried about overloading my son, as he’s only 4 months old.

I have read many, many sites that say maltodextrin contains the chemical called “processed free glutamic acid,” which is in monosodium glutamate. So, wouldn’t that make MSG and maltodextrin the same thing?

Which sites? It still wouldn’t make Maltodextrin the same as MSG. MSG is just free glutamin acid, having no macronutrients or caloric content. Maltodextrin on the other hand is a “complex” carb with caloric content. MSG won’t spike your blood sugar levels, Maltodextrin will.

If someone purchases Shakeology I do get a benefit, as well as other Beachbody Products. However, I don’t recommend some of their products that aren’t as good, even though I get a commission. I.e. Beachbody sells Whey Protein, but I would never recommend it because you can get better for cheaper elsewhere. Shakeology on the other hand is something that I use, have seen the benefit, and can’t find a better product in the same category. That’s why I recommend it.

I recently discovered that packaged foods labeled 100% natural may contain mdx. Mdx is the product of an industrial process right? It doesn’t exist in nature but it’s made from natural ingredients such as rice and corn (which may be GMO – so not that natural). Why are food manufacturers allowed to lie and pretend their products are natural when they are not? I try to eat only natural products that I prepare at home, but recently I experienced a couple of severe cutaneous allergic reactions after eating “100% natural foods” with mdx in it.

It is technically a complex carbohydrate. I haven’t seen any other sources saying otherwise. However, maltodextrin behaves more like a sugar (simple carb) than a complex carb in the body, given it’s high glycemic index. So I can see why the other article you read claimed maltodextrin wasn’t a complex carb. When it comes to maltodextrin, food companies use this technicality of it being a complex carb to their advantage so they don’t have to label it as sugar. Hope that helps

I was in WalMart and saw a bag of (labeled) “Stevia – made with Stevia Extract.” I was trying to reduce my sugar intake and had heard that stevia was a safe substitute. Unbeknownst to me, under ingredients, Maltodextrin is listed at the first ingredient, with Stevia second. This ticks me off. And, after reading your blog which says this crap turns to fat if not used, I’m flabbergasted. Reading labels is a must. Ingredients are probably the only true thing on the label. Thanks for posting this blog. Very informative.

Joe

February 15, 2015

Also, beware its other names. I’ve read it also goes by “Modified food starch”, or included under “Spices” and “artificial flavors”

Maltodextrin is bad if it has nothing to do in body (like repairing muscle tissues or giving energy). So if you are not working out, doing any sports, do not need high energy level, avoid using maltodextrin containing products. That is the message I picked up from this article. Thank you! 🙂

I’m curious how bad you think maltodextrin (and some other iffy ingredients) are in an otherwise excellent soup base – really exceptional, precise flavor, distinct from almost all other packaged broths or soup bases i know for not putting too many of the same ingredients into each base. And I use only a teaspoon to tablespoon per 1 to two gallons, because I’m enhancing fresh ingredients in soup, not making soup from this, entirely.
The brand is BETTER THAN BOUILLION, i was introduced to it by two outstanding chefs for whom I worked years ago at a high-end-first generation Manhattan gourmet food shop, for which i cooked. The ingredients in their vegetarian “No Chicken” base are as follows:
Vegetables (carrot, celery, onion); salt; hydrolized corn protein; Maltodextrin; Cane sugar; canola oil; Yeast Extract; corn syrup solids; dried potato; natural flavor; turmeric.

Well, at least your not using loads. Otherwise I’d say stay away. Some say Any Hydrolized protein is a hidden term for MSG, and corn syrup solids and maltodextrin—I don’t see why those would be in a soup base. Of course, I’m no chef!

Just get a different brand of turmeric. Not every brand includes maltodextrin. I would imagine that the amount would be very small in such a supplement, but if you are trying to be as natural as possible, just search for a brand with better integrity.

I started taking shakeology as a meal replacement and was told it didn’t have maltodextrin not dextrose, I liked it and it helped me in my weight loss but then someone told me to try the Herbalife shakes and I realized they have maltodextrin and dextrose, should I not take it and stick to shakeology?

One reason to keep an eye out for maltodextrin in ingredients is that for some people, it can cause extreme discomfort and IBS symptoms within minutes of ingesting maltodextrin.

Seeing as how it’s in a lot of soups, sauces, flavored chips, etc, and especially since you can’t read ingredients at a restaurant, this can be a huge issue with just trying to find something safe to eat. The severity of the symptoms seems to be dependent on the quantity in question, although it doesn’t take a whole lot.

For example, with myself, within minutes into eating a dish with maltodextrin in it, I get severe gastro pains and IBS issues (think explosive), and find myself in or needing to stay near a bathroom for the next 48 hours. From my looking around, it seems quite a few people have this issue.

So if anyone is finding they have the runs immediately after or during eating certain things, and no dairy is involved, this is a possibility. For my wife, it’s Carrageenan.

WOW! This is a lot to absorb. I’m having new GI issues causing me to loose too much weight. I also have hypoglycemia which further complicates this. I’d like to try some malto mixed with my Nature’s Plus protein shakes. I’ve found in the past, I can handle the sugar if it’s ingested w/ enough protein. I’m having a hard time eating as much as I need. Could this be a short term solution to helping me put on some pounds until I can get this dialed in better? I’m told I may have a form of IBS too, this may get interesting. Is there any difference in buying malto from a brew shop vs. health food store? Is 100% malto really mean 100%? I see prices from 6$ to 36$ on products claiming to be nothing more than 100% malto, just trying to make sure I’m not missing something.
Thanks! JD

Hi Jed
I just came across the Maltodextrin
comments and I saw the no Malto in Shakology comment. I have a bag in front of me and number one under non- medicinal ingredients is Maltodextrin
So what gives
Thanks

Hi Joe, you are actually correct. I previously didn’t notice that or it wasn’t labeled previously. Likely the small amount of maltodextrin is for better dilution with liquid. Considering the large amount of other carb-based ingredients, it’s unlikely that it contributes much to the carbohydrate count. Plus, Shakeology is certified low-glycemic index, which wouldn’t be the case if there were high concentrations of the ingredient.

Thank you so much for this information. I am on the Ketogenic diet and bought a big bag of Stevia for use in tea, etc., thinking it was the most natural product of all the sugar substitutes (and is not a sugar alcohol…). I saw Maltodextrin on the label, and Stevia Leaf Extract and decided to look it up. I had a fleeting thought when I bought it wondering how they get the stevia leaf, which is green, into a white product. Now I know! It is so misleading for companies to put a sugar-free natural product onto a worse-than-sugar product, and then label it as no carbs and sugar free. I am so tired (but not giving up!) of having to doubt and double- triple-check everything I eat because I can’t trust industry to have my best interests at heart. I’ll purchase 100% liquid Stevia, which is in it’s closest to natural state (check label) without having the green chloroform (and bitterness that goes with it). You can buy green stevia dried, with crushed leaves but it is a matter of whether you have a taste for it. Thanks for the clarification on maltodextrin.

I’m hoping you know the answer to this. I hold to a paleo diet and very tightly to the “no grain” aspect, but not as strict on the “no additional sugar”. I have a really hard time getting enough calories because paleo is so expensive and I have lost a descent amount of weight. I am really working hard on finding the right protein to gain weight and finally found one that has a lot of good calories. it’s grass fed, non gmo, and all that jazz, BUT it has “organic maltodextrin” in it. Would it be acceptable for me to use this protein? Is it closer to a sugar or a grain?

If it’s made from GMO corn does that mean it also contains glyphosate(roundup) and pesticides? So can glyphosate cross over the process?

The main question I have is how does Maltodectrin affect diabetics. It’s being shown that HFCS affects the sugar metabolism because it’s absorbed differently than sucrose. Since maltodextrin is absorbed more quickly as well, sugar spikes seem very possible.

I’m not an expert in the transference of glyphosate in GMO corn derived Maltodextrin. For your main question, in my non-professional opinion, since Maltodextrin has a higher glycemic index than table sugar, it’s probably best to be avoided for diabetics.

I have Ulcerative Colitis, which is a form of IBD. Maltodextrin increases bad bacteria’s ability to form biofilms that adhere to intestinal epithelial cells. This 1) keeps bad bacteria from being excreted and 2) prevents nutrient absorption.

Hi, thank you for the great article. I have some questions I would be grateful if you answered. First, you mentioned how maltodextrin is only good to use as a workout recovery supplement. How intense does the training or duration need to be for this product to be suitable? What type of training or group of athletes will it most benefit? If your goal is weight loss or trimming down, is it best to avoid maltodextrin at all costs even if you train intensely? I am trying to maintain my weight and currently use the product “stevia in the raw”, which contains maltodextrin as many others have stated. I really love this product versus real stevia products because it is not as concentrated and bitter as the ones with only pure stevia as the ingredient. Do you have any suggestions as to which type/brand of stevia is best to purchase if I do not want an overly sweet/bitter taste? The maltodextrin in stevia in the raw definitely helps dilute the sweetness to the perfect level for me…. is there any way I could use another source instead of malto that does not spike blood sugar in pure stevia extract products. I use a lot of this stevia in my recipes and would not want to raise blood sugar. Lastly, I heard that malto causes water retention, is this true?

First, all carbs cause water retention, it’s part of what they do. With the post-workout, you’d mainly use it if your fit and pretty athletic, or if you are trying to get into shape and have plateaued in your workouts. Stevia in the Raw would not be a great post-workout option, as you’d want to use a lot more maltodextrin than what that product has, but is fine in other uses.

Jed, Thank you for the information. I just noticed a supplement tablet has it and
while I haven’t noticed anything in a short time, I thought such a small amount might not be an issue. Would it take more than that to cause an issue?

I’m no FDA expert, but normally companies are required to show macros past .5 grams. So it’s very doubtful the maltodextrin would cause a sugar spike from the amount in chicken. It may affect the GMO status though 🙁

The overall production process of maltodextrins starts with the wet milling operation which consists of food grade enzymes. The delicate production process has been witnessed in Shafi Gluco Chem with not only exclusive quality but also the moderate carbohydrates preserved in a product.